Loan ranger Tony Rougier is up for the challenge of helping Albion avoid relegation, although he will begin with a watching brief.

The rampaging Reading frontrunner will be on the bench against depleted Millwall at Withdean tomorrow, with Graham Barrett confirmed as a starter by boss Steve Coppell.

Rougier, signed for a month, was wanted by other clubs including Luton but he is content to swap a promotion bid with third-placed Reading for a survival scrap with the third-bottom Seagulls.

The 31-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international said: "I had other options as well as Brighton but this is the closest for me and my family and the team need my help.

"They are in trouble. It's not going to be easy going from fighting for promotion to fighting against relegation but it is a challenge I am up for and I will do my best.

"Reading are doing well, so it has been difficult for me to get back into the side. They have offered me a one-year extension to my contract but I just want to play first team football."

Barrett, on loan from Arsenal for the rest of the season, bids to end a 15-game goal drought alongside Bobby Zamora in place of the suspended Gary Hart.

Coppell said: "Strikers more than anyone else are judged on their goal return and it is coming to the crunch part of the season now.

"Graham has got to be proving to Arsenal, to us, to himself the doubts and question marks are unfounded regarding his scoring ability.

"He has the chance to put it right. He will be starting on Saturday and it's up to him to grab hold of the opportunity with both hands."

Dave Beasant returns in goal from food poisoning after Coppell made it clear to Sheffield United there is no chance of the 43-year-old joining them as cover for Paddy Kenny.

Completing a hat-trick of wins for the first time in ten months will move Albion out of the relegation zone, providing Grimsby fail to pick up three points at Ipswich.

Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke, the sides below the Seagulls, also have tough away games at Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest respectively.

Coppell said: "You can see the difference those wins against Wolves and Bradford made and I think that is important.

"I have poo-pooed positions in the past, but now as we are coming towards the end of the season I really do think that is a massive incentive.

"I sense it would give the players real meaning if they can get out of the bottom three."

Match preview at thisisthealbion.co.uk